[spiznnx]

PTFE, the end product, is safe for general use. PFOA/PFOS were used in its manufacture, but does not need to be present in the final product or dumped unprocessed into the wastewater or landfill. It's only in our environment due to cost-savings reasons.

[mlyle]

PTFE isn't the only end-product. There are a lot of products that use PFAS directly for water resistance and other properties. Even some personal care products like dental floss, shampoos, etc.

[engineer_22]

Great fire retardant, heavily used in soft foam furniture like sofas.

Also great for preventing stains, used on carpets.

Lots of attractive applications of these chemicals and that's why they're so pervasive

[spiznnx]

I did not realize this. That seems rather unnecessary.

[verall]

The dental floss you're talking about is PTFE and not PFAS.

[spiznnx]

PFAS is a class of chemicals that includes both the safe/stable PTFE and cancer-causing ones like PFOA, PFOS, and new ones

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per-_and_polyfluoroalkyl_subst...

[coryrc]

Nope: https://www.ehn.org/pfas-floss-2658203711.html

[mensetmanusman]

It’s in our environment because it was used to fight fires at munition depots.

[engineer_22]

It's in fire fighting foams at airports. Every military air base has a ground plume beneath it.

[red-iron-pine]

Correct. Which is, incidentally, why most military air bases are superfund sites.